More than 500 homes in Torbay have been sitting empty for two years or more, according to new figures released today. Forty of the homes have sat empty for more than a decade, say Torbay Liberal Democrats, who released the report.

The figures, uncovered through Freedom of Information requests, show that there are more than 1,000 homes across Torbay that have been empty for six months or more. Of these, 376 have been empty for two years or more, 137 for five years or more, and 40 have stood empty for at least ten years.

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The Lib Dems say that Torbay’s Conservative administration has failed to make use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders, powers used by local authorities to take over properties that have been empty for at least six months. "This is despite the fact that some local families have spent Christmas without a home," said a Lib Dem spokesman.

Homelessness in Torbay

Nationally only 19 of the 247 councils in England and Wales that responded had used an EDMO in the past five years. Of these only six had used one in the past year.

Tormohun Councillor and Lib Dem Housing Spokesman nick Pentney said: "At a time when the homelessness crisis is worsening and more and more people are sleeping out in the cold on our streets, it is a scandal that so many homes locally are sitting empty.

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“These homes could be turned into affordable places to live for those that need it across Torbay. The Government needs to urgently review the current system which is clearly not working and Torbay needs to be given the powers and resources to bring empty homes back into use.

"It is shameful that our Conservative controlled council has failed to use existing powers to end this scandal. Local families have spent Christmas homeless because of Conservative inaction and ineptitude."